Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase
Limited Handicap, Aintree 15:00
£70,000 added,
4yo plus,
2m 4f, Class 1
Saturday 25th October 2014

Free Racing Tips

1 Wishfull Thinking 14/1
2 Edgardo Sol 9/1
3 Rolling Aces 8/1
12 ran Distances: 12l, hd, 3¾l
TIME 4m 49.10s (slow by 1.10s)

What a performance from 11 year old Wishful Thinking, winning at 14/1 for Hobbs and Johnson

The Philip Hobbs-trained veteran Wishfull Thinking showed his abundant talent remains very much intact with a runaway success under Richard Johnson.

Wishfull Thinking
© Racehorse Photos

The Romford Pele
Having finished second in the race two years ago and sixth last season, the 11-year-old was a 14-1 shot to make it third time lucky, but it was not looking great at the halfway stage as Johnson crouched lower in the saddle to ensure his mount did not fall away.

The complexion of the race changed before the turn for home as those who had been ridden aggressively beginning to feel the pinch, and Wishfull Thinking got his second wind. H e was picking off rivals one by one in the straight and scooted clear before a huge leap at the final obstacle sealed an emphatic 12-length victory.

Edgardo Sol edged out Rolling Aces for the runner-up spot.

Speaking from Chepstow, Hobbs said: "It was amazing, I was staggered to see him win so easily. He's going to be put up by the handicapper again, so I suppose he'd either go for the Amlin Chase (at Ascot) or the Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon)."

Delighted wife Sarah Hobbs said: "Richard said the other horses were going too fast for him for most of the race, but then they started to stop and he just picked up and took off. He jumped fantastically and then ballooned the last - just because he's so well.

"Three days ago we thought about not running as he worked very badly. It was a very windy day, the wind came right across him and he couldn't breathe. He's always had breathing problems and he panicked.

"But then the next day he cantered and he was fine and Richard schooled him yesterday and was delighted with him, so we decided to let him take his chance."

Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase (Limited Handicap)
£70,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

Pos Dist Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Wishfull Thinking 14/1
R Johnson
11-8 P J Hobbs 11
2nd 12 Edgardo Sol (FR) 9/1
Aidan Coleman
10-10 Miss E C Lavelle 7
3rd hd Rolling Aces (IRE) 8/1
Nick Scholfield
11-2 P F Nicholls 8
4th Uxizandre (FR) 2/1f
B J Geraghty
11-4 A King 6
5th Mr Moonshine (IRE) 11/1
Ryan Mania
10-8 Mrs S J Smith 10
6th 9 Conquisto 10/1
B Hughes
10-6 S Gollings 9
7th 10 Module (FR) 10/1
P J Brennan
11-10 T R George 7
8th Kie (IRE) 40/1
Henry Brooke
10-5 D McCain Jnr 6
9th 53 Bold Sir Brian (IRE) 20/1
P Buchanan
10-8 Miss Lucinda V Russell 8
PU Viva Colonia (IRE) 40/1
Danny Cook
10-4 B Ellison 9
UR Rajdhani Express 5/1
Mr S Waley-Cohen (3)
11-4 N J Henderson 7
UR Lucky William (IRE) 28/1
D C Costello
10-5 T Cooper 10

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